Brain flapping + Michael Gove | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping+politics/michaelgove
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Michael Gove reworks the science curriculum | Dean Burnetthttp://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/oct/22/michael-gove-science-curriculum-education-spoof
Leaked memos suggest Michael Gove is again turning his unwelcome attention to science teaching in schools, with the potential for baffling results<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gove">Michael Gove</a>, education secretary for the UK, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/30/michael-gove-destroying-school-system">isn't very popular in his role</a>. He has long turned the country's teachers <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/michael-gove-must-go-national-1798726">against </a><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24549604">him</a>, his ideas for new assessments <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/michael-gove-forced-into-humiliating-uturn-over-ebacc-8484074.html">collapsed</a>, and he is even being stood up to by <a href="http://www.channel4.com/news/free-schools-clegg-v-gove-education">Nick Clegg </a>(famously an <a href="http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/animals/animalindexinv.htm">invertebrate</a>). He normally has a negative impact on education in the UK, all told.</p><p>Now, leaked memos, possibly from the Department of Education, reveal that Gove is once again turning his attention to science. Whereas previous attempts to change the science curriculum have been <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/michael-goves-science-curriculum-has-more-holes-than-swiss-cheese-8547944.html">widely criticised</a>, new information suggests that Gove is intending to push his ideological changes even further, applying them to nearly all aspects of science in school. Some of the more worrying proposals are detailed below.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/oct/22/michael-gove-science-curriculum-education-spoof">Continue reading...</a>ScienceMichael GoveEducation policyScienceTeachingSchoolsPoliticsEducationTue, 22 Oct 2013 06:15:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/oct/22/michael-gove-science-curriculum-education-spoofChris Ison/PA'About this big?' (Michael Gove, when asked to specify the Planck length). Photograph: Chris Ison/PAAlastair Grant/APAnother politician who seems to have lost his way? Britain's Education Secretary Michael Gove looks for his car as he leaves Downing Street in London. Photograph: Alastair Grant/APDean Burnett2013-10-22T06:15:00ZMr Men and Little Misses of Science | Dean Burnetthttp://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/may/10/science-mr-men-little-miss
Michael Gove recently attacked the use of Mister Men characters to teach children History. If Michael Gove is attacking it, that's a reliable sign that it's a good idea. This method could also be used to teach the more complex elements of science<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gove">Michael Gove</a> recently <a href="http://politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2013/05/09/michael-gove-s-anti-mr-men-speech-in-full">criticised modern teaching methods</a> in the UK by referencing the fact that children were being taught about Hitler via the use of <a href="http://www.mrmen.com/en/index.html">Mr Men </a>characters. He implies that this is a widespread, common teaching method, rather than a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/09/michael-gove-mr-men-history-lessons">planned technique where year 11 students could revise what they'd learned by explaining it to younger pupils</a>.</p><p>Children, being encouraged to show creativity, original thinking and the ability to effectively communicate information to others? Can you imagine what fresh hell would be unleashed upon society if that became the norm? It's too hideous to even contemplate.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/may/10/science-mr-men-little-miss">Continue reading...</a>ScienceScienceEducation policyMichael GoveEducationFri, 10 May 2013 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2013/may/10/science-mr-men-little-missPublic domainMr Relativity, going rather fast, as is his wontPublic domainLittle Miss Antimatter is always keen to shake your hand. It's not a good ideaPublic domainMr Climate Change is reliably unpredictablePublic domainLittle Miss Organ Donation is more than the sum of her (and other's) partsPublic domainMr Gas Giant is hard to miss, even if you're desperately trying to, thanks to his immense gravityguardian.co.ukLittle Miss Brian Cox exists purely to be the worst piece of "photoshopping" to ever grace the Guardian websiteDean Burnett/Public domainMr Men could feasibly be used to teach anything (apart from maybe gender politics)PAMr Men characters Mr Birthday and Little Miss Birthday. Photograph: PADean Burnett2013-05-10T06:00:00Z